Fastening device



FASTENING DEVICE- Filed Nov. 12,' 1940 Hed?,

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within a bore of the handle.

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 rAs'rENING DEVICE' George AA. Tinnerman, Cleveland,.0hio, assigner to Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application November 12, 1940,-Sverial No. 365,179

10 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening means for securing handlesror knobs to stems or tools or the like, and more particularly to a fastener .which'may be inserted into the handle or knob and which mayA then receive the stem or the like and prevent relative rotation of the parts.

In setting forth a specific embodiment of the present invention several stems are shown which are similar in form to the stems of .control valves for faucets and the like and the principles of the invention find excellent practical application in this field. Such stems are conventionally provided with flutes or grooves extending parallel to their axes and while a great many different stems of this nature are offered by various mane ufacturers, they are found to vary throughout only a moderate range as 'to diameter. The various faucet valve stems also vary in the relative size and pitch of the flutes or grooves.

Heretofore, the handles which have been at-V tached to such stems have had mating flutes or projections, these being molded or machined as 'an integral part of the handle or formed as a metal insert which was then either placed in the mold and thus incorporated into the handle or driven into, cemented, or otherwise secured In the case of a handle formed of ceramic material or of synthetic resin or other plastic, the first type mentioned is usually unsuitable as the projections,

which are usually of rather small cross-sectional dimensions, soon become abraded and stripped.

v On the other hand, the cost of molding an insert into an article of this'nature is usually a very considerable part of the total manufacturing cost, .due to the initial cost of machining the insert and to the complication of'the mold.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a handle adapted to receive vfastening i means `which will overcome the above named objections and an object,` therefore, is to provide a handle and an insertable fastener therefor,

' both of which are simple and economical as to manufacture, easy to assemble, and which cooperate to form an interlocking engagement of high mechanical quality with a. mating' stem` or.- V the like.

other manifestations of the invention may .be produced, such as in the case of a series of screw drivers or other related tools where a single v common and interchangeable handle is desirable, or, in general, wherever a sleeve is to receive a stem and be non-rotatively engaged by it. In a preferred form the present invention comprises a handle having an opening therein for receiving one or more tubular inserts, such inserts. having formed therein means for interlocking with grooves in astem. The4 nature of the interlocking means of the tubular inserts is such thata single insert is effective to interlock with stems varying somewhat in diameter and in the size,y arrangement andnumber of grooves. Nevertheless, it is desirable under J,certain cir-I cumstances to provide several co-axial inserts arranged end to end with the smallest insert oc. cupying an innermost position in the handle and the largest positioned adjacent the outer end of the opening in the handle.

The present invention provides means whereby handles formed of synthetic resins and other modern plastics may be quickly-and easily applied to faucet valve stems, either as original equipment or as replacements for -porcelainor other handles which may have become broken or which are outmoded. The far ylower thermal conductivity of handles formed of plastic material, as compared with metal andother handles, gives further advantage to the employment of the principles set forth herein. A feature of the invention resides in the fact. that handles constructed Ain accordance with the teachings thereof may be quickly and easily attached to or removed from conventional iluted stems without `the use of tools of any kind, special or otherwise.

In the accompanying drawing which depicts the invention in exemplary form, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a control handle constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane 2-.2 in lFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a form of insert; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of a second modified form of insert.

-,In the drawing and throughout this specificatin like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I0 designates the hub portion of a handle element which may, incertain forms e respectively.

. insert I3 ceiving one or more tubular inserts. In the illustrated instance two such inserts are provided and they are designated generally I3 and I4,

Referring particularly to Figs. and 6, and to garajes loosely throughthe tubular insert I4 and into interlocking engagement in the inner tubular insert I3. l

The greater cross sectional size of the ears or 5 prongs I1 of the inner tubular insert I3 increase lthe insert designated I3, which occupies an innerv most position with respect to the opening in the hub portion i0 of the handle element. it is noted that such insert may be conveniently formed from sheet metal whereby a terminal portion of the blank may be utilized as akeying flange I5, such ilange being adapted to be disposed in a similarly formed lateral recess I6 in the opening in the hub portion l0. It is preferred that the tubular inserts be formed of resilient metal so as to be sprung* into position and there maintain them' selves, and, `due to its non-corrosive qualities, phosphor bronze has been found best suited as a material when handles for plumbing nxtures are under consideration. The main tubular portion of the insert I3 is provided with a pair of parallel slits which in the present instance are pictured as extending from the outer end of the insert to a point short of the other or inner end of the insert. An ear or prong I1.is thereby/formed and such ear or prong is provided with a V-shaped transverse cross section as appears clearly from the detailed cross section, Fig. 6.` This prong may projectbeyond the outer cylindrical surface of the insert before assembly and thus assist in binding the insert within the bore of the handle.

From Fig. 6, it will likewise-be seen that upon assemblya ridge I8 oi a fluted stem I9 is em'- braced by the ear or prong I1 while the longitudinal edges of the latter engage against the faces of ridges -and 2i lying at opposite sides of the ridge I8. It-is`to be understood that the to the sleeve I3 is prevented by engagement of the face of the ridge 2| against the abutting edge of the ear or prong I1. y It will be noted that the second tubular insert I4,'which is disposed outwardly of the insert I3,

is slightly larger in diameter and also is provided with-ears or'prongs designated 23. The ears or prongs 23 are the same in general as the ears or prongs I1 of the tubular insert I3 but are narrowerl and consequently f somewhat shallower. The insert Il is preferably provided with a lateral keying flange 24 which issimilar to the figure I5 o0 of the insert I3. n

In; Fig. 4 -there is shown a stem orshank 21 which has at its end a' series of grooves or flutes extending longitudinally of the stem. The stem the range of sizes of valve stems which may be interlockingly received therein. Such increase in range affects the lower limit of 'stem sizes which may be accommodated since with the larger ears-v f or prongs I1 the outside diameter of the stem to 15 valve stem or shank.

be received may be somewhat smaller than the principal inside diameter of the tubular insert I3, the longitudinal edges of the earsor prongs I1 nevertheless engaging faces of the ridges of the In the illustrated embodiment the provision of two diametrically opposite ears or prongs I1 onv the inner insert I3 is contemplated. Likewise the outer tubular insert Il has a pair of ears or en prongs 23.` It will be seen, however. that this number may be varied to suit various conditions.

Also, it will be seen that the prongs I1 need not be diametrically opposite each other but can be disposed variously throughout the body, nor need 5' they extend to the lower edge of thel body. For

' instance,l in the embodiment of Fig. 1, two prongs I1a of an insert I3a are illustrated closer together than those in Fig. 6 for greater inherent strength in the insert itself, better performance under localized stresses in use, or for other reasons.

The means for preventing rotation between the handle and insert may also take various forms within the contemplation of this invention. vIn the embodiment oi Fig. 8, for example,'a somewhat simpler construction is obtained by provid- 40 is embraced by the opening inthe hub lI0 ofA the handle element in such a way c edges of a prong of considerably greater width 'than those previously illustrated or as two prongs of simpler form. v

or shank 21 is slightly larger in diameter than `6 the stem or shank IS and happensto have a greater number of grooves or flutes. This means thatthe individual grooves or ilutesare consequently smaller in transverse section.. The stern 21 would, upon assembly in the handle element I0, enter only the outer tubular'insert Il; being stopped from further entry by the smaller diameter of the tubular insert I3 and the greater size of its years or prongs I1.' The stem I9, on the other hand, ywould slip somewhat The nature of the disposition of the ltubular inserts in the hub portions III of the handle element is such that great structural strength of the handle element and .the hub portion thereoi'is not essential and such handle element and hub por'- `tion may be integrally molded of plastic material of any suitable kind and in a pleasing variety of' colors. l

The manner oi engagement of the tubular insert with the flutes of the stem or shank being l. along longitudinal lines extending for a maior .portion ofthe length of the insertl substantially prevents the possibility of wiggling or wobbling of the handle withrespect to the stemA when in assembled position..

In the'handle element illustrated a disc Il. see Fig. 2, is disposed inthe inner" end of the c openingin the hub portion I0. This form of the `invention contemplates th'e utilization of a handle element formed of a transparent or translucent. plastic or other material and the disc III may be colored, 'configured or otherwise pro-` vided with a symbol or symbols for indicating the nature of they-thing which is controlled by nuted end of the controls,'respectively.\ The disc may either the handle. For instance, a pair of handle el/e- A ments might beprovided, one with a red disc, and the other with a blue disc, for indicating that the handle members are hot and cold water be longitudinal projection or key 30, in the c agrarios by engagement of th'e tubular insert.

While specic embodiments of the principles of the present invention are illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereby or otherwise than as deiined inthe appended claims.

1. Means for axially engaging a sleeve andy a uted stem against relative rotation, such' means comprising a tubular .insert disposed in a cylindrical opening in an end of saidsleeve, means for preventing rotation of said insert in said sleeve, and a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal slits in said insert extending from one end part way jonly to the other end to produce flexible fingers integral with the body of the insert, said fingers being V-shaped in transverse-cross section with comprisinga tubular insert disposed in a -cylindrical opening in an end of said sleeve, meansf vfor preventing rotation of -said insert in said sleeve, and a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal slits in said insert extending from one end part way to the other, one edge portion adjacent one J of the slits being directed bliquely .inwardly to provide an edge for abutment against lthe face of a ridge of a iiuted stem, andthe opposite edge portion adjacent the othery slit being directed obliquely" inwardly to bear. against an opposite face of a ridge of the. fluted stein.4

3. Means for axially engaging a sleeve and a utedstem against relative rotation, such means ,comprising a tubular insert disposed in a cylin. drical opening in an end of said sleeve, means 'for preventing rotation of said insert in said sitely directed clutch faces forengagement with oppositely disposed faces of the'ridges of a uted stem.

14. Means for axially engaging a sleeve and a fiuted .stem against relative rotation', vsuch means lcomprising a tubular springl metal insert disposed 1n acyundricai opening m ab end or said vsleeve, means for preventing rotation of said 1 insert `in said sleeve? and a pair of. spaced, par

allel longitudinal slits in said insert extending from one end part way to-the other, the metal between said slits being V-shped in transversecross section with the terminal portions of said V shapedirected inwardly for'engagenent with a uted stem. l

5. Means for axially engaging a sleeve and a uted stem against relativev rotation, such' means comprising a tubular insert formed of spring metal and disposed in a cylindrical opening in an end of said sleeve, means for-preventing rotation of said insert insaid sleeve, and` a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal slits in said insert extending from one end' part way to the other, one edge of the metal adjacent one of the 'slits being directed obliquely inwardly to provide an edgefor abutment against the .face of `a ridge of a Ofiuted stem, and the opposite edge of the metal adjacent the other slit being directed 4obliquely inwardly to bear against an opposite face of a ridge of the fiuted stem.

6.A A fastener comprising a one-piece split tubular body of sheet material, having a pair of ii slits extending longitudinally and from one end thereof part way to the other, the body having a portion thereof adjacent each slit turned `inwardly to provide twoshoulders facing in diier- Vent directions, said shoulders 'being adaptedA to l engage an article which extends into the body and to lock thefastener tothe article. f

7. A replacement handle for faucets and the like comprising a body of plastic material with an axial bore partially-therethrough, an insertl5 able bushing in said bore providing a pair of oppositely facing abrubt anges each made by a turned-inportion of the body oi the bushing adjacent a slit extending part way only from one end of the bushing. said ilanges being longitudinally disposed inwardly Ain said 'bore and va apted to contact with.complementary longitu l grooves on a faucet valve stem to lock said handle and stem for simultaneous turning movements while permitting ready attachment and detachmentof said handle from said stem by longitudinal axial movement of saidhandle relative to said stem under impetus of the handl of the operator.

8. A' fastener comprising a one-piece tubular body of sheet material having slits extending part I way from one end and adjacent the slits turned inwardly'and extending in different directions.' and providing abrupt shoulders for engaging an article that extends into the body, and said body havinga tongue extending outwardly therefrom for engaging an article into which the fastener` may be positioned, whereby the fastener operates to lock the two articles together against rotation with respect to each other.

9. The combination of a handle for turning a stem and 'interconnecting means therefor, said handle comprising a body of, plastic material with'an axial bore partially therethrough, said interconnecting .means comprising a tubular .body of spring metal insertable in said bore and adapted to receive said stem, said'ha'ndle` and interconnecting means having substantially radial shoulders engaging each other to key such parts. together, a pair of llongitudinal slits in said. tubular. body extending from' one end part way 'to the other end, one edge of the, metal to provide an edge for abutment against'a face of a groove in the stem, and the opposite edge ofthe metal adjacent the other slit being bent obliquelyinwardly. to bear against an opposite face of a groove in the stem to thereby prevent -relative rotatio in either direction.

' .10. IThe comb ation of auted stem, a handle 6o. for turning it, and interconnecting means between the two, said handle comprising a body of plastic material 'with' an axial, bore :partially therethrough, said interconnecting means comprising a tubuiar bodyor spring metal insertame' A o5 in said bore, and having pairs of-longitu`dinalslits comparatively close to each other and ex-4 tending from one end part way to the other end of the insertable'means to provide iiexiblespring fingers. the opposite edge of each nger being. y

turned inwardly to provide abutments to coact with the ribs and grooves of the iiuted stem.

' GEORGE.la.Y'rimasamm.` l

adjacent one slit being bent obliquely inwardly 

